Ireland is a lot smaller than most people think. With a population of four million, it is only the twentieth largest island on earth. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in influence. Well known for its political and literary heroes, the Emerald Isle has also had a profound impact on the history of science. In this article we will discuss a few famous Irish scientists.
Easily the most influential scientist to ever come out of Ireland, Robert Boyle is often called the Father of Chemistry. His career began when he published a paper that called into question the legitimacy of alchemy. At that time, alchemy was highly regarded. But Boyle maintained that the composition of substances was far more important than magic or miracles here on earth.
Boyle is also famous for coining the term analysis, which he believed was a necessary tool for all aspiring scientists. Later, he introduced a scientific law that would bear his name. Boyle's Law maintains that the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely related when the temperature remains constant.
Not nearly as famous as Boyle, Francis Beaufort remains a well-known and respected Irish scientist. He is generally regarded as the greatest naval mapmaker in history. He also introduced the Beaufort scale, which is a table that helps sailors calculate the force and velocity of winds at sea.
Last but not least, we have George Boole. While working as a professor of mathematics at Queens College, Boole developed his very own system of algebra. Because it was later used to program the first computers, he is often referred to as the Father of Computer Science.